National Nurses Week may be two months away, but it’s not too early to mark your calendar. This year’s observance (May 7-12) includes the national release of a documentary spotlighting the contributions of diverse nurses working across the country.
As caregivers, nurses know what they do day in and day out. But the public may not understand. It doesn’t help that depictions of nurses on television shows and the big screen may be inaccurate or stereotypical.
Filmmaker Carolyn Jones’ “The American Nurse” explores critical issues facing the nation by featuring the work and lives of five registered nurses. These same nurses were included in Jones’ coffee table book, The American Nurse, released in 2012.
The film’s nurses include: Jason Short with Appalachian Hospice Care, Inc.; Sister Mary Stephen Bloesl from the Villa Loretto Nursing Home in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin; Brian McMillion at the Veterans Health Administration San Diego Medical Center; Tonia Faust from the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola; and Naomi Cross, a labor and delivery nurse at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md.
The nurses will participate in a discussion at the film’s May 7 premiere at the American Film Institute’s AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. The American Nurses Foundation and Fresenius Kabi USA, a global health care company, will host the event.
Want to learn more? Check out the film’s trailer here. For locations and showtimes, visit here.
Buying a ticket is a win-win. Proceeds from the film will support scholarships awarded by the American Nurses Foundation.
Robin Farmer is a freelance journalist with a focus on health, education and business. Visit her at www.RobinFarmerWrites.com
Do you find yourself too pooped after work to exercise? Get in line. And it is a rather lengthy one.
About half of the adults across the nation say they fail to get the suggested 30 minutes, five days a week of moderate activity or the suggested 20 minutes of vigorous activity three times week, according to a survey by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
Don’t be one of them. Start by exercising where you spend eight hours or more each day: your job. You already know that a sedentary lifestyle is no bueno. Here are five ways to work out [without advertising] while at work:
☛ Take the stairs. Ideally two at a time, several times each day. If it has been a while since you navigated floors without using an elevator, start off by walking down the stairs. Make it a goal to climb stairs in a designated time.
☛ Walk more. This classic exercise is ideal for the workplace. Split your lunch time between eating and walking. Visit a co-worker instead of emailing or calling. Or walk to a restroom or water fountain that is not nearby.
☛ Do seated leg lifts. Sit up tall in your seat. Lift one leg until it’s straight and parallel to the ground. Hold for a count of five, then lower. Repeat 10-15 times, and switch to the other leg.
☛ Try the “Wooden Leg.” While seated, extend one leg out in front of you. Hold for two seconds. Then raise it up as high as you can, and hold it again for two seconds. Repeat with each leg 15 times.
☛ Stand up and stretch your arms, legs and torso.
Increasing your activity at work provides benefits and not just for you. On-the-job exercises can boost concentration and productivity, making it a benefit for your employer.
Robin Farmer is a freelance journalist with a focus on health, education and business. Visit her at RobinFarmerWrites.com.
With spring less than a month away, now is a good time to assess your progress with your resolutions for this new year. How are you doing? If you are having trouble remembering exactly what your resolutions are, there is ample time to regroup and pursue the life you desire.
But you need a different strategy. Start by choosing a theme word to serve as a touchstone for the remainder of the year. Kind of hard to forget one word, right?
Your theme word acts as a framework for the rest of 2014. Your goals should align with your theme. This approach provides clarity by narrowing all of your plans into one single focus.
For example, my theme for 2014 is “kindness.” I have decided to align my daily actions around being a kinder person in every aspect, a kinder wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, etc. Initially, I was torn between “kindness” and “fearless.” I made my selection after receiving an email asking what I would tell my younger self if I could go back in time 30 years. My response: “To be more kind.” And then it dawned on me that I could live the rest of my life by being kinder.
Another way to pick your theme word is by reviewing the list of changes you would like to make in your life. You may want to try out your word for a day or a week. You may need to try out several words before finding one that is a keeper. When you get a chance, come back and share your word with us.
Hopefully, your theme word will inspire you over the next nine months in a way your resolutions never did!
Robin Farmer is a freelance journalist with a focus on health, education and business. Visit her at RobinFarmerWrites.com.
Have you ever had to deal with a disrespectful coworker who makes your life miserable on the job? Know this: you are not alone. Nine out of 10 workers say they have experienced uncivil behavior and have witnessed it, according to a study by Georgetown University and Thunderbird School of Global Management of nearly 3,000 participants.
Such nasty colleagues can come in various flavors of unpleasantness, from condescending to confrontational to creepy to downright conniving. And when he or she is hellbent on stealing your credit for a job well done or making you look bad, your morale and performance can take a major hit.
So, how do you handle a competitive coworker who thinks nothing of throwing you under the bus? First, chill out. You will have to think about your approach in a calm manner. After all, there is no escaping this person unless you are ready to change jobs.
Stay one step ahead of sabotaging coworkers with the following measures:
Document your work. From presentations to projects, make sure management recognizes your contributions. Make it difficult for someone to steal kudos that belong to you.
It pays to be kind. Staying positive when someone is hellbent on undermining you requires enormous patience and discipline. But your upbeat attitude and smiling face may disarm your colleague and build your support network.
Don’t be a doormat. Stand up for yourself, but do it in a polite and professional manner. Be prepared. Practice your response in front of the mirror or use a video recorder. The goal is to respond without getting emotional. Be prepared.
Involve a third party. If all else fails, you may need to get others involved or go to your Human Resources department, especially if the conniving coworker is also a bully. This is where good documentation comes in handy.
Whatever you do, ignoring the problem is not an option. Empower yourself to make your work day good or bad. Don’t let a competitive coworker decide.
Robin Farmer is a freelance journalist with a focus on health, education and business. Visit her at RobinFarmerWrites.com.
When it comes to work-related injuries, nurses get more than their fair share. So, what are you doing to protect your health?
Is more exercise one of your resolutions for 2014? Smart move. Regular exercise not only helps to control your weight, it may also help prevent injuries and colds. Consider this the next time you want to skip a workout. Strength training, cardio activity and stretching are preventive measures.
Nursing ranks among the top occupations for work-related musculoskeletal disorders, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Heavier patients, a shortage of nurses and the aging of the workforce add up to a recipe for injury. Being fit is not a guarantee you will bypass manual-lifting injuries, but strengthening core muscles may reduce the likelihood and help existing back injuries heal.
The best way to prevent back pain is to avoid heavy lifting. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health puts the limit on safe lifting at 35 pounds. Use the lifting equipment and other assistive devices in your workplace to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
Other preventive measures to protect your health include:
✔ Speak up. If conditions are less than ideal when it comes to proper lifting equipment or your hospital’s safe-patient handling program, do not suffer in silence. Be an advocate for workplace safety.
✔ Wash your hands often. One of the best ways to prevent a cold or the flu is good hand hygiene. Keep viral and bacterial infections at bay by washing your hands throughout the day.
✔ Take care of your feet. Get proper-fitting shoes that provide good support. Add orthotics to treat problems such as plantar fasciitis.
✔ Take breaks. Give your body a rest by taking time to recover from daily stress. If you are new to the job, take breaks more often than seasoned workers to prevent injuries from fatigue.
Protect the health of your patients by protecting your own!
Robin Farmer is a freelance journalist with a focus on health, education and business. Visit her atRobinFarmerWrites.com.
